Saturday, November 2, 2013

Don't worry folks, I'm still alive, but just barely. I've spent the last several days battling a flu-like illness. I suppose it wasn't THAT bad, but I could've really used some sort of mom-like figure to take care of me. The other Fulbrighters did a great job making sure I was fed and comfortable while sad, sick me crashed on their couch. Unfortunately for me, almost all of them left Colombo today for their teaching or research posts. But now I have friends to visit in many interesting locales.

A couple of weeks ago I made a short trip to Kandy. I visited my old host family, who were much like I had remembered them. My host grandfather can't speak much due to illness, but in greeting he just gave me a little slap across the face much to my host grandma's amusement. Good ol' aththaa. I also paid a visit to my guru and one of the most well-known traditional dancers in Sri Lanka, Mr. Peter Surasena. He lives next door to his son, also a dancer, who has a dance studio in his house. I will live with the son, his wife, and their two adorable children while I am training in Kandy, beginning in December. It's a beautiful area, surrounded by palm trees and paddy fields, and not nearly as sweltering as Colombo. Much to look forward to.

This weekend I took a day trip to Galle with two Sri Lankan friends to show me around. The Dutch colonial fort in Galle is quaint as can be. We also stopped by the resort town of Unawatuna, just a few minutes' drive from Galle. I got overly excited about the ocean and jumped right in. It was absolutely glorious.

Life aside from weekend excursions is business as usual. Dance is beginning to hurt less, and I'm catching up on the steps rather quickly. It feels great to have had a good workout and feel exhausted at the end of the day. In addition, the Fulbright commission has asked me to put on a dance workshop for the community at the end of the month. It will be a good experience to be in charge of such a project.

There have been some expected and unexpected challenges living here, but with each one I learn so much and am stronger for it. I've been managing to survive, learn dance, and have some fun, so I can't ask for much more.

1 comment:

Sorry to hear that you got sick. Glad you have met good friends to help you out. I hope you are going to post some of the dance workshop you are going to do at the end of the month. It would be great to see it.

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About Me

I'm a Fulbright student researcher living and studying in Sri Lanka for nine months. My research is on Kandyan dance, Sri Lanka's traditional up-country dance style. I plan to both learn the Kandyan technique and conduct ethnographic research concerning Sri Lanka's dance community. This blog, "Adventures of a Fulbrighter in Sri Lanka," is not an official Fulbright Program site. The views expressed on this site are entirely those of its author and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations.